I used to dislike being the “Class of ’25.” I wanted our class number to have a seven or a three in it—something a little more odd.

Yet when I sat down to write this speech, I found my prior distaste for the number 25 funny. When I hear “Class of ’25” now, I feel a sense of pride. I get excited and stand taller. I don’t think about the number 25, I think about Lara and Abby’s “good morning gators!” and Ava’s fourth block giggling fits.

Last week while interning with a professor from the University of Maryland, I attended UMD graduation. I began to tear up as “Pomp and Circumstance” played throughout the XFinity Center and the graduates processed in, grinning and waving in their cap and gown. Watching the procession, my emotion surprised me. I knew no one graduating, and I’m not one to simply tear up.

I texted Cameron, always privy to my random thoughts, “Why am I tearing up at UMD graduation, when I haven’t cried at all during any of our graduation festivities?” And as I tried to figure out why these strangers were prompting more emotion in me than hugs from my closest friends, I realized it’s because our Stone Ridge experience simply isn’t over.

We buttoned—or safety pinned—our kilts for the last time on Monday, June 2. We received the last Weekly Update from Mrs. Diaz on Friday, May 30, and we ate our last Sage chicken and rice on Thursday, May 15. But we’re not done with Stone Ridge. Not really.

We have shaped each other into the people that we are today. It’s arguably impossible to be done with this place. At milestone moments like graduation, we often discuss entering the “real world.”

"Embrace wholeheartedly the moment of life that you are currently in. [...] Keep meeting the future with your Stone Ridge Class-of-’25-character. Keep reflecting. Keep asking questions. Keep seeking justice. Building community. Growing and changing."

I could stand before you, saying: we’ve deciphered Ms. Zindulis’ green pen and heard Mr. Ish’s life advice. Congratulations! It’s time for the real world.

But this idea of reaching the real world feels inaccurate. For us right now, this is the real world.

But to give credit to this idea: we are moving on. We are leaving behind the “Slounge,” where someone always had an enthralling story to share; we are leaving behind peculiar emails from Mr. Woodard, Core Group minute-to-win-its, and Social Action Wednesdays. Thus, there is this sense that we have “arrived at the future.” But I still don’t think that’s quite right.

What I admire about our class is that we are wholly committed to whatever is going on here and now. Our class cares—deeply.

I once had a teacher new to Stone Ridge ask my Band class, “Is there anything I should know about the Stone Ridge Upper School, other than the fact that I need ear plugs for Upper School assembly?”

Reflecting, I realize I am proud of the noise that Stone Ridge and the Class of 2025 generate because the noise is a product of our class’ vibrance.

While Caroline was rehearsing Ave Maria, Mary Kate was cheering on Gator Field. Simultaneously, Ale was leading Unidas, PK was solving problems we didn’t even know existed, and Aki was making art.

Informed by the energy of our class, don’t wait to reach the real world. We’ll go to college, which, according to conventional wisdom, also isn’t the real world. Then hopefully we’ll get a job; maybe go to grad school, travel, write a book, do whatever it is you dream of doing. And as life progresses, don’t wait for the future to arrive. Don’t wait for what you’re doing to matter. Because the future will always be tomorrow.

So we are heading into the future, but not because we just looked Mrs. Karrels in the eye, gave her a firm handshake, and received our diploma. But because we faced the future yesterday, and the day prior, and the day before that. We faced the future when we showed up to our first captains’ practices as freshman; when we left for exchange and when we attempted to answer Bruce’s and Alice’s question, “What would it take to make a more human society?” during Social Action.

At this point, JV soccer with Coach Juan probably feels well within your comfort zone. But when we were 14, that experience was big.

So, to the 85 people before me, go out into the real world or the future, whatever you want to call it—frankly, just life—and persist with your Class-of-’25-spirit.

You are ready to change. You have changed over and over these past four years, and you will change over and over during your next four years, and the next four, then the next 10, 11—and on and on.

Embrace wholeheartedly the moment of life that you are currently in. Don’t cling to the past; yet don’t discount your current experiences because there is something bigger or “quote-unquote more important” in the future.

Keep meeting the future with your Stone Ridge Class-of-’25-character. Keep reflecting. Keep asking questions. Keep seeking justice. Building community. Growing and changing.

Congratulations. I can’t wait to hear from you in two years, 10 years, 20 years, and even 50 years. ❤